20 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



for all portions of the State where data can be obtained; and for the first 

 time in the history of this society, the issue of its annual report was ex- 

 hausted before the report for the succeeding year was ready. This was 

 mainly due to the increased value of the report in this department, so 

 ably managed by Sergeant James A. Barwick, and it now entails on him 

 considerable extra work performed out of his official hours, without pay 

 (the officer being prohibited, under the Signal Service restrictions, from 

 receiving any remuneration other than his salary from the government) . 



Owing to the increased interest taken by this Board in the publication of 

 these valuable statistics, the demand for our report is made by the various 

 universities, colleges, and scientific institutions throughout the civilized 

 world. 



The interest taken by all in the collection and distribution of this kind 

 of data, should be of sufficient importance to the members of the next 

 Legislature to incorporate a system of State weather service, to be under 

 the management and supervision of the State Board of Agriculture, as it 

 would certainly be more economical than if organized in a separate bureau. 

 And there should be printed thousands of copies of State meteorological 

 reports for free distribution in the Eastern States, instead of the few hun- 

 dred now issued. These reports could be printed in a neat leaflet form, 

 easy for transmission through the mails. 



Another benefit also to be derived from a State weather service would 

 be the issuance of a weekly or monthly bulletin of the condition of the 

 weather in every county of the State. This pamphlet could be made 

 nearly if not quite self-sustaining by permitting advertisements, and dis- 

 tributing it throughout the great agricultural and horticultural districts of 

 our State, and inviting correspondence on the weekly or monthly condition 

 of crops, etc. We would advocate a weekly issue of this paper for the 

 benefit of merchants and other residents of the cities and towns, as this 

 class of our citizens cannot be kept better enlightened on the condition of 

 all crops at short intervals from a responsible source. There are between 

 twenty-five and thirty States in the Union that now have a similar system 

 of State weather service, and we have several of their publications at hand 

 that show considerable care and attention in their arrangement. 



We of California are trying to show and verify to the world that we 

 have (which fact is known to us all) the best climate that the sun ever 

 shown on, and in what manner can we better develop and show to the out- 

 side world the glorious climate, sunshining days, and healthfulness, as 

 well as the general climatic condition of the State, than by the method 

 herein suggested. 



It can be verified that we have from seventy-five to one hundred and fifty 

 more clear days than any other part of the world. 



The State weather service, if encouraged by an appropriation and organ- 

 ization by the Legislature, could begin operations with fully one hundred 

 stations; the instruments to equip the same would not cost to exceed 

 $20 for each station, or say about $2,000 for the entire number. After once 

 equipped with first class instruments, the cost of maintaining them would 

 be nominal. There would be no pay attached to the office of observer, as 

 we would select in each locality such persons only that would take an 

 interest in meteorology, and for the use of the instruments would be glad 

 to take the observations and make reports at stated intervals of the cli- 

 matic condition of the neighborhood, and not be compelled to take it from 

 the memory of the oldest inhabitant either. $2,000 for instruments; $1,000 

 for incidental expenses in establishing stations; $1,800 per year for pay of 

 the officer in charge of the service, and $500 per year for replacing and 



